China floats space tourists for station visits
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 25, 2024

China plans to expand the participation of international astronauts and space tourists in its space station missions. The country's space agency expects to include a diverse group of participants in the near future, according to an agency spokesperson.

Three groups of astronauts have been trained by China so far, with the selection process for a fourth group nearing completion, Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for the Shenzhou XVIII mission, announced at a press briefing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

The upcoming group of Chinese astronauts will join the active roster to undertake future missions, including China's ambitions for a crewed lunar landing, Lin added.

The Chinese astronaut corps exhibits a wide range of ages and professional backgrounds, with a strong focus on the skills and psychological and physical robustness required for space missions, according to Lin.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article

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